Density fluctuations in amorphous and semicrystalline polymers

Summary The small-angle scattering of amorphous and semicrystalline polymers contains an intensity component due to density fluctuations within the crystalline and amorphous domains.For amorphous polymers, the density fluctuations aboveT _g correspond to the theoretical value for a fluid system in thermodynamic equilibrium. BelowT _g , a temperature dependence proportional to T is observed over a range of about 50°. At lower temperatures, a linear relationship with a smaller slope has been found which extrapolates to a non-zero value at 0 °K. This value corresponds to the frozen-in disorder, the slope at low temperatures is related to thermal vibrations and can be evaluated in terms of photon-phonon scattering.Semicrystalline polymers show a temperature dependence of the density fluctuation similar to that of the amorphous polymers. At constant temperature the density fluctuations vary linearly with crystallinity.Natural rubber shows an increase of the density fluctuations with increasing cross-linking densities from which information on the density changes in the vicinity of a cross-link and on the statistics of the distribution of cross-linking can be obtained.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kleinwinkelstreuung amorpher und teilkristalliner Polymere besitzt eine Intensitätskomponente, die von Dichtefluktuationen innerhalb der kristallinen und amorphen Bezirke herrührt. Für amorphe Polymere entspricht die Dichtefluktuation oberhalb vonT _g dem theoretischen Wert für ein fluides System im thermodynamischen Gleichgewicht. UnterhalbT _g wird eine Temperaturabhängigkeit proportional zuT über einen Bereich von etwa 50° beobachtet. Bei tieferen Temperaturen wird eine lineare Beziehung mit einer geringeren Steigung gefunden, welche zu einem endlichen Wert bei 0 °K extrapoliert werden kann. Dieser Wert bezieht sich auf die eingefrorene Fehlordnung, die Steigung bei tiefen Temperaturen ist auf thermische Schwingungen zurückzuführen und kann als Photon-Phonon-Streuung ausgewertet werden.Teilkristalline Polymere zeigen eine Temperaturabhängigkeit der Dichtefluktuation, die der von amorphen Polymeren ähnlich ist. Bei konstanter Temperatur ändert sich die Dichtefluktuation linear mit der Kristallinität.Naturkautschuk zeigt eine mit der Vernetzungsdichte ansteigende Dichtefluktuation, aus der man Information über die Dichteänderung in der Umgebung eines Netzpunktes und die Statistik der Netzpunktverteilung erhalten kann.

     

A study of a nonprimitive model for electrolyte solutions based on perturbation theory

The equation for the Helmholtz free energy for systems of small anisotropic molecules and ions is deduced by substituting the complete expression for various potential energies (including repulsive, dispersive, electrostatic, and induced energies) into the perturbation expansion. The equation is applied to pure water. The relative dielectric constant is set at unity. Based on the equal chemical potentials of equilibrated vapor and liquid phases, the molecular parameters of water are regressed from the densities of saturated vapor in the temperature range of 0 to 370°C. The ARD of regression is 1.16%. These parameters are used to predict the heat of vaporization and densities of saturated vapor and liquid phases of water in the same temperature range. The ARDs of prediction are 4.5% and 9.8%, respectively. The equation is used to correlate the osmotic coefficients of twelve 1:1 electrolyte solutions. The relative dielectric constant is set at unity. The parameters (Soft-sphere diameter and dispersive constant) of seven ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Cl^–, Br^–, and I^–) are obtained. The total average absolute deviation between calculated and experimental values of the osmotic coefficient is 0.041. The parameters of ions can keep constant in different systems.     

An amino acid based system for CO2 capture and catalytic utilization to produce formates

Herein, we report a novel amino acid based reaction system for CO₂ capture and utilization (CCU) to produce formates in the presence of the naturally occurring amino acid l-lysine. Utilizing a specific ruthenium-based catalyst system, hydrogenation of absorbed carbon dioxide occurs with high activity and excellent productivity. Noteworthy, following the CCU concept, CO₂ can be captured from ambient air in the form of carbamates and converted directly to formates in one-pot (TON > 50 000). This protocol opens new potential for transforming captured CO₂ from ambient air to C1-related products.

A novel amino acid based reaction system for CO₂ capture and utilization (CCU) to produce formates is presented applying a ruthenium-based catalyst. Noteworthy, CO₂ can be captured from ambient air and converted to formates in one-pot (TON > 50 000).     

Hydrothermal synthesis and intercalation behavior of a layered titanium phosphate Ti2(H2PO4)(HPO4)(PO4)2 · 0.5C6N2H16, with an extended γ-phase intercalated into organic amine

With a hydrothermal technique, a layered titanium phosphate with the formula Ti₂(H₂PO₄)(HPO₄)(PO₄)₂ · 0.5C₆N₂H₁₆ (denoted TP-J2) has been prepared by treating the Ti/H₃PO₄/H₂O/1-methylpiperazine system directly. The as-synthesized products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, CP-MAS solid-state ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA). The structure was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and it presents an extended γ-phase intercalated with organic amine. Crystal data: triclinic, , a = 8.106 (2) Å, b = 8.197 (2) Å, c = 11.658 (2) Å.  = 78.32 (3)°, β = 80.85 (3)°, γ = 77.90 (3)°, Z = 2. Additionally, the intercalation behavior of TP-J2 with n-alkyl monoamine (n = 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) was investigated. Owing to the strong brønsted base, N,N′-dimethylpiperazine, resides in the interlayer, it presented unusual features of TP-J2 in contrast with that of γ-Tip.     

Star-shaped and linear nanosized molecules functionalized with hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene: synthesis and optical properties

[structure: see text] A synthetic strategy promising the establishment of a new star-shaped and linear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) family with distinct molecular topologies has been developed. The Sonogashira reaction between the iodide derivatives 2a-e and phenylacetylene catalyzed with Pd(0) affords 3a-e in high yields. The Diels-Alder and decarbonylation reactions between 3a-e and tetraphenylcyclophentadiene following the oxidation by FeCl(3) produce the star-shaped and linear PAHs 5a-e containing a five-membered ring. The structural analysis and the optical properties of all new compounds are performed by a combination of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectrometry. The electronic and photophysical properties are studied by orthogonal comparisons of the absorption and fluorescence spectra in THF solutions, which not only give insight into the interactions among aromatic submoieties in each molecule and the effects of meta-conjugation and para-conjugation on electronic delocalization, but also indicate effective conjugation length variations from oligophenylacetylenes 3a-e to oligophenylene dendrimers 4a-e and PAHs 5a-e. The star-shaped 5c exhibits the highest aggregation in excited states compared with the other four hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) derivatives.     

Die IR-Spektren von NH4UO2AsO4·3H2O und NH4UO2PO4·3H2O

The infrared spectra of the title compounds, as well as that of the structurally related mineral meta-autunite, [Ca(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂·n H₂O], are reported and discussed using the available crystallographic data. The results can be considered as representative for the full group of the so-called torbernite-minerals.     

Untersuchungen an Kristallhydraten anorganischer Salze, 8. Mitt. Interpretation der Schwingungsspektren vonM(BF4)2·6H2O fürM=Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+

The infrared and Raman spectra were recorded in the range 4000–160 cm^–1 forM(BF₄)₂·6 H₂O whereM=Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺. The spectroscopic data support the X-ray structural data in showing that in the crystal hydrates studied two kinds of hydrogen bonds are present: H₂O...H₂O and OH₂... F₄B^–. The energies and molecular force constants (f _OH and fH₂O) andr _OH for OH₂...F₄B^– were calculated for the three crystal hydrates. It was found that the bond OH₂... F₄B^– is comparatively weak, with mean energy 3.7–3.3 kcal/mol. Two types of water molecule with different structures are existing as the first are participating in H₂O...H–O–H...F₄B^– and the second in BF₄ ^–...H–O–H...F₄B^–.     

Strong Structural and Electronic Binding of Bovine Serum Albumin to ZnO via Specific Amino Acid Residues and Zinc Atoms

ZnO biointerfaces with serum albumin have attracted noticeable attention due to the increasing interest in developing ZnO-based materials for biomedical applications. ZnO surface morphology and chemistry are expected to play a critical role on the structural, optical, and electronic properties of albumin-ZnO complexes. Yet there are still large gaps in the understanding of these biological interfaces. Herein we comprehensively elucidate the interactions at such interfaces by using atomic force microscopy and nanoshaving experiments to determine roughness, thickness, and adhesion properties of BSA layers adsorbed on the most typical polar and non-polar ZnO single-crystal facets. These experiments are corroborated by force field (FF) and density-functional tight-binding (DFTB) calculations on ZnO-BSA interfaces. We show that BSA adsorbs on all the studied ZnO surfaces while interactions of BSA with ZnO are found to be considerably affected by the atomic surface structure of ZnO. BSA layers on the surface have the highest roughness and thickness, hinting at a specific upright BSA arrangement. BSA layers on surface have the strongest binding, which is well correlated with DFTB simulations showing atomic rearrangement and bonding between specific amino acids (AAs) and ZnO. Besides the structural properties, the ZnO interaction with these AAs also controls the charge transfer and HOMO-LUMO energy positions in the BSA-ZnO complexes. This ZnO facet-specific protein binding and related structural and electronic effects can be useful for improving the design and functionality of ZnO-based materials and devices.     

Low spin ferric hemoglobin complexes

A caloulation has been made of the energy eigenfunotions and eigenvalues of low spin ferric ion in complexes with a strong cubic crystal field including the effects of tetragonal and rhombic distortions and of spin-orbit coupling among the ground state components and with excited states. Using the resultant, spin-orbit coupled eigenfunotions as a basis set, the magnetic susceptibility, the components of magnetic field energy, and the lattice and valence contributions to an electric field gradient at the iron nucleus were all calculated as a function of rhombic, tetragonal, and spin-orbit coupling strength used as parameters: R, u and . All of the calculated results agree reasonable well with experiment for the values of parameters R=1000 cm^–1, u=2000 cm^–1 and the free ion value (=420 cm^–1. These values of parameters were selected for the excellent fit they gave of the calculated values of g _x, g_y and g _z compared with the experimental ones obtained from single crystal electron spin resonance of ferrihemoglobin azide. With them, a value of 2.29 Bohr magnetons was calculated for the effective magnetic moment compared to the experimental value of 2.35. The total field gradient calculated under the same conditions, predicts a nuclear quadrupole moment Q in the range of. 107 –127. Barns, which is smaller than the range predicted from the high spin ferric ion results. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Ausgehend von einem starken kubischen Ligandenfeld und unter Berücksichtigung tetragonaler (R) und rhombischer (u) Verzerrung sowie der Spin-Bahn-Kopplung () werden Eigenfunktionen und Energien fur Low-Spin-Ferrihämoglobinkomplexe berechnet. Mit den Parametern R=1000 cm^–1, u=2000 cm^–1, =420 cm^–1 erhält man für Suszeptibilität, elektrischen Feldgradienten am Fe und g-Werte gute Übereinstimmung mit experimentellen Daten. Aus dem berechneten Feldgradienten folgt ein Quadrupolmoment des Fe⁵⁷ von 0.107–0.127 Barn, im Gegensatz zu den viel höheren Resultaten bei High-Spin-Fe(III)-Verbindungen; diese Diskrepanz wird diskutiert.

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Résumé Les fonctions propres et les énergies du complexe Ferrihémoglobine «low spin» sont calculées pour un fort champ de ligandes à symétrie cubique, en tenant compte des distortions tétragonale (R) et rhomboédrique (u), ainsi que du couplage spin-orbite (). Avec les parametres R=1000 cm^–1, u=2000 cm^–1, =420 cm^–1, on trouve pour la susceptibilité, le gradient du champ électrique à l'emplacement de Fe et le facteur g des valeurs en bon accord avec les données expérimentales. On déduit du gradient de champ calculé un moment quadrupolaire de Fe⁵⁷ de 0,107 à 0,127 Barn, en désaccord avec les résultats beaucoup plus élevés obtenus à partir des associations Fe (III) «high spin». Ce désaccord fait l'objet d'une discussion.

     

Rapid determination of underivatized pyroglutamic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine and other relevant amino acids in fermentation media by LC-MS-MS

Determination of amino acids in a complex matrix without derivatization is advantageous, however, difficulties are found in both the detection and the separation of those compounds. In this study, a rapid and reliable LC-MS-MS method for the quantitation of underivatized amino acids in exocellular media was established. Injections were made directly after centrifugation of the samples, without further preparation. The separation of seven underivatized amino acids was achieved on a reversed-phase C18 column with pentadecafluorooctanoic acid as a volatile ion-pair reagent, and the specific detection of most amino acids was achieved by MS-MS of the specific transitions [M + H]+-->[M + H - 46]+. The calibration curves of all analytes were linear over the range of 1.0-1000 microg ml(-1) and the detection limits ranged from 0.1 to 5 ng ml(-1), with an injection volume of 20 microl. The inter-day and intra-day precisions ranged from 2.6 to 5.7% and 4.8 to 8.2%, respectively; the mean recoveries of the seven analytes were 81-104%, 91-107% and 93-101% respectively at the spiked level of 10, 40 and 200 microg ml(-1). A large number of fermentation samples were analysed using this method. The technique is simple, rapid, selective and sensitive, and shows potential for the high-throughput quantitation of amino acids from other biological matrices.